Nintendo is no longer concerned with finding security holes in the 3DS, spelling impending doom for the handheld console.

Well, we knew that the 3DS’s days were numbered once the Switch really took off. That 3D gimmick never really landed with gamers thanks to its finicky sweet spot and constant additional eyestrain. Most people turned it off, making the 3DS a glorified and oversized version of the original DS.

Then the Switch arrived as a hybrid handheld and traditional console. After that, the 3DS sort of became an afterthought for Nintendo.

And now it seems like Nintendo is saying goodbye to the 3DS in a somewhat more official way by ending its security bounty program for the handheld gaming platform.

This might require some explanation, so we’ll start with the website HackerOne. This is the site where companies post hacker “bounties”–basically, anyone who can find a security vulnerability on their site/product and show their work can get paid. It’s like freelance contract work, but for white hat hackers.

Most IT companies have a presence on HackerOne, including Nintendo. However, Nintendo has recently announced that they’re ending their bounty program for the 3DS and will focus solely on the Switch.

The news comes from Twitter user and Switch dataminer @OatmealDome (by way of Destructoid). A message from HackerOne indicates that Nintendo has “dropped 3DS vulnerabilities from this program in accordance with the current security situation for Nintendo 3DS."

Which is to say that they don’t care about the 3DS or if anyone can hack it any longer. The bounty program will accept submissions until July 15, and after that it’s just for the Switch only.

We can’t say that this comes as much surprise. Nintendo has already announced that they’re going to end the 3DS Eshop in 42 countries at the end of July, so we expect to hear Nintendo say that they’re going to officially stop supporting the 3DS entirely later this summer. Then the 3DS will go the way of the PS Vita, with only indie visual novel developers making games for it.

Source: Twitter, Destructoid